Binary clock

ABSTRACT

A binary clock including a housing mounting a first ordered array of light sources for indicating the hour of the day according to a binary numbering system; a second ordered array of light sources for indicating the 5 minute interval of the hour of the first array according to the binary numbering system; a third ordered array of light sources for indicating the minute within the 5 minute interval of the second array; and control means for selectively illuminating the first, second, and third arrays to indicate the time of day. The housing includes a mounting board on which the light sources of the first, second and third arrays are carried; a translucent masking member in front of the light sources to prevent viewing thereof until they are illuminated; side members carrying the mounting board and masking member and serving in conjunction with the mounting board and masking member to enclose the light sources; and a light absorbing covering within the enclosure except on the masking member.

t) ite 4 States Cuevas et al.

l l BINARY CLOCK '[76] Inventors: John W. Cuevas, 91 Rosaire PL,

Cr Ss-Creel Efk y, Atlanta, Ga. I 3O7 firley W. 161185; 37m Decatur Rd.,Decatur, Ga. 30341 [22] Filed: Jan. 13, 1972 21 App]. No.: 217,620

Primary ExaminerRichard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Edith SimmonsJackrnon Attorney, Agent, or FirmB. 1. Powell [57] ABSTRACT A binaryclock including a housing mounting a first ordered array of lightsources for indicating the hour of the day according to a binarynumbering system; a second ordered array of light sources for indicatingthe 5 minute interval of the hour of the first array according to thebinary numbering system; a third ordered array of light sources forindicating the minute within the 5 minute interval of the second array;and control means for selectively illuminating the first, second, andthird arrays to indicate the time of day. The housing includes amounting board on which the light sources of the first, second and thirdarrays are carried; a translucent masking member in front of the lightsources to prevent viewing thereof until they are illuminated; sidemembers carrying the mounting board and masking member and serving inconjunction with the mounting board and masking member to enclose thelight sources; and a light absorbing covering within the enclosureexcept on the masking membet.

4 Claims; 4 Drawing Figures BINARY CLOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany time measuring devices are available on the market today. Becauseof the number of such devices available, there has been a tendency tostandardize same as to the arrangement of the time readout provisionsthereof. One such arrangement is the dial clock with the numbers thereonarranged in a circle about the dial and another arrangement uses anumerical display.

A Because of the standardization of such time measuring devices, berylittle artistic uniqueness could be offered to the potential customerfor such devics. Moreover, no provision was made with these prior artdevices which allowed only the owner to determine the correct time whenthe time measuring device was visible to other persons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other problems and disadvantagesassociated with prior art time measuring devices are overnumberingsystem of l-12, a second ordered array of light sources corresponding toa binary numbering system of 1-12, and time control means forselectively illuminating selected lingt sources to indicate the hour'and for illuminating selected light sources to indicate the minuteinterval past the hour. A third array of light sources corresponding tothe numbers 1-4 may be provided and illuminated selectively by the timecontrol means to indicate the particular minute within the particular 5minute interval indicated by the second array of lights. Each of thearrays has four light sources therein.

The method of the invention includes the steps of illuminating a firstordered array of light sources to indicate the hour of the day using abinary numbering system and of illuminating a second ordered array oflight sources to indicate the 5 minute interval of the hour of the day.The method may also include the step of illuminating a third orderedarray of light sources to indicate the minute within the particular fiveminute interval indicated by the second array.

These and other features and advantages of the invention disclosedherein will be more fully understood upon consideration of the followingdetailed description and accompanying drawings wherein like charactersof reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several viewsand in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS light array patterns; and,

FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic drawing of the time control circuit ofthe invention.

These figures and the following detailed description illustrate specificembodiments of the invention, however, the inventive concept is notlimited thereto since it may be embodied in other forms.

7 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 3,the invention includes generally a first array of light sources 11, asecond array 12 of light sources 11, a third array14 of light sources11, and a time control means for selectively illuminating the lightsources 11 in each array.

There arefour light sources 11 in the first array 10 and are arranged tocorrespond to a binary numbering system of 1-12. Thus, the sources 11 inarray 10 correspond to the values 1, 2 4 and 8 as indicat ed lightsources 11 disclosed are conventional light bulbs, other types of lightsources may be used. Likewise the second array 12 has four light sources11 that correspond to l, 2, 4, and 8 as indicated on P-2 form a circlewith sources 11 equally spaced therealong. To facilitate reading thedisplay by the light sources 11, each array 10 and 12 is ordered so thatthe value of each light source 11 in array 10 increases from the rightwhen reading clockwise in FIG. 3 and the value of each light source 11in array 12 increases from the right when reading counterclockwise inFIG. 3. The light sources 11 in the array 14 are also ordered with thevalue of each increasing from the right lower corner and movingcounterclockwise as seen in FIG. 3. It will also be noted that the array14 is arranged in a square about the arrays 10 and 12.

In illustrating the operation of the invention, the time control circuit15 illuminates the appropriate light sources 11 in array 10 to indicatethe hour, the light sources 11 in array 12 to indicate the 5 minuteinterval past the hour, and the light sources 1 1 in array 14 toindicate the minute within the 5 minute interval shown by array 12. Forexample, to indicate 3:21, the 2 and l value light sources 1 1 in array10 would bee illuminated to give a total value of three; the 4 valuelight source 11 in array 12 would be illuminated to indicate the fourth5 minute interval past the hour or 20 minutes past the hour; and the lvalue light source 1 1 in array 14 would be illuminated to indicate 1minute within the 5 minute interval to give a total reading 3:21. Toindicate 10:32, the 8 and 2 value light sources 11 in array 10, the 4and 2 value light sources 11 in array 12, and the l and 2 value lightsources in array 14 would be illuminated.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the arrays 10, 12and 14 are carried by a housing 20 having a generally squareconfiguration. Housing 20 includes a pair of parallel vertical sidemembers 21 joined at their their ends by a top member 22 and a bottommember 24 to provide an open square frame. The

inside edges 25 of members 21, 22 and 24 are provided with aligned rearrecesses 26 parallel to and spaced inwardly of the rear edges 28 ofmembers 21, 22 and 24. Front recesses 29 are provided on the insideedges 25 parallel to recesses 26 and spaced forwardly thereof by adistance a.

A light mounting board 30 is carried in rear recesses 26 and mounts thelight sources 11 on the front surface 31 thereof in the aforementionedarrays 10, 12 and 14. A masking member 32 is carried in front recesses29 over the light sources 1 1 with the distance a being sufficient toposition member 32 sufficiently forward of board 30 to clear the lightsources 11.

The masking member 32 is constructed of a translucent sheet materialeffective to substantially prevent the viewer from seeing light sources11 until they are illuminated. Any of a number of materials may be usedfor same, however, a commercially available smoked plastic sheet hasbeen found satisfactory.

The front surface 31 of board 30 and those portions of the inside edges25 of members 21, 22 and 24 may be painted a dark, light absorbing coloror coated with a light absorbing material 34 as seen in FIG. 2 to insurethat the light sources 11 are not seen until illuminated.

CONTROL CIRCUIT While various control circuits may be used to operatethe invention, the circuit shown in FIG. 4 illustrates anelectromechanical version. As seen in the schematic, the minute array 14of light sources 11 are controlled through a stepping relay R1, theminute array 12 of light sources 11 are controlled through the steppingrelay R2, and the hour array of light sources 11 are controlled throughthe stepping relay R3. Relay R1 is is a 5 pole, 6 position steppingrelay and relays R2 and R3 are 5 pole, 13 position stepping relays. Thepoles of relay R1 are numbered Rl-l through R1-5 and the positionsnumbered 1-6. The positions and poles of relays R2 and R3 are likewisenumbered. Each of the relays R1, R2 and R3 have a stepping coil foroperating the movable contact of each pole through the positions and arelease coil for returning the movable contacts to position l. Anormally closed set of contacts are operated by each stepping coil. Thestepping coils are referenced Rl-S, R2-S, and R3-S, the release coilsRl-R, R2-R and R3R, and the associated contacts Rl-R, R2-R,

'and R3-R.

As seen in FIG. 4, one side of the 1 light 11 of array 14 is connectedto the movable contact of pole Rl-l, one side of the 2 light 11 to themovable contact of pole R1-2, one side of the 3 light 11 to the movablecontact of pole R1-3, and one side of the 4 light 11 to the movablecontact of pole R1-4. The movable contact of pole Rl-S is connected toground through normally closed contacts R1R,. The fixed contact atpositions l-4 of pole Rl-l, at positions 2-4 of pole Rl-2, at positions3 and 4 of pole Rl-3 and at position 4 of pole R1-4 are also connectedto ground through contacts R1R,. The fixed contact at position 5 of poleRl-S is connected to relay R2 as will be explained and the fixed contactat position 6 of pole Rl-S is connected to one side of release coilRl-R.

The relays R1, R2 and R3 are driven by a 1 rpm synchronous motor M1connected to a conventional 115 volt AC power source. A set of contactsMl-l are associated with motor M1 which causes the contacts Ml-l to beclosed momentarily on each revolution of motor M1. A power supplycircuit 40 is connected to the H5 volt AC power source through atransformer T, having a first output winding W and a second outputwinding W The first output winding W 1 is connected to a rectifiercircuit 41 having a diode D,, a resistor R and a capacitor C,. The hotoutput A of circuit 41 is connected to the hot sides of each of thestepping coils and release coils of relays R1, R2 and R3 and is shown as48 volts DC. The second winding W is connected to one side of each ofthe lights 11 in arrays 10, 12 and 14.

The ground side of stepping coil Rl-S is connected to ground through anormally closed set mode toggle switch SW-SM and contacts Ml-l of motorM1. The ground side of coil Rl-S is also connected to ground throughnormally open pushbutton set switch SW-S.

The 1", 2, 4 and 8 value light 11 of the 5 minute array 12 are connectedrespectively to the movable contacts of poles R2-l, R2-2, R2-3 and R2-4of relay R2 with the movable contact of pole R2-5 connected to groundthrough normally closed contacts R2R The fixed contacts at positions 1,3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 of pole R2-l; at positions 2, 3, 6, 7, 10 and 11 ofpole R2-2; at positions 811 of pole R2-4 are also connected to groundthrough contacts R2R The fixed contact at position 12 of pole R2-5 isconnected to relay R3 as will be explained and the fixed contact atposition 13 of pole R2-5 is connected to the ground side of the releasecoil R2-R. The ground side of the stepping coil R2-S is connected to thefixed contact at position 5 of pole Rl-S of relay R1 through thenormally closed set mode toggle switch SW-SM and is also connected toground through the normally open set pushbutton switch SWS The l 2, 4and 8 value lights 11 of the hour array 10 are connected respectively tothe movable contacts of poles R3-1, R3-2, R3-3 and R3-4 with the movablecontacts of pole R3-5 connected to ground through the normally closedcontacts R3R,. The fixed contacts at positions 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 ofpole R3-l; at positions 2, 3, 6, 7, 10 and 11 of pole R3-2; at positions4-7 and 12 of pole R3-3; and at positione 8-12 of pole R3-4 are alsoconnected to ground through contacts R3-R The fixed contact at position13 of pole R3-5 is connected to the ground side of release coil R3-R.The ground side of stepping coil R3-S is connected to the fixed contactat position 12 of pole R3-5 of relay R2 through the normally closed setmode toggle switch SWSM and also to ground through the normally open setpushbutton switch SWS In operation, the relay R is stepped one positioneach time motor M1 closes contacts Ml-l. This causes the appropriatelights 11 of the array 14 to be illuminated to indicate the minute ineach 5 minute interval. Once the light 11 is illuminated, it remainsilluminated for the remainder of the 5 minute interval. When relay R1 isstepped to position 5, it causes relay R2 to step one position toindicate the next 5 minute interval. When relay R1 is stepped toposition 6, the release coil Rl-R is energized to return the movablecontacts to their original start position. Likewise when relay R2 isstepped to position 12, the relay R3 is stepped one position to indicatethe next hour interval and when it is stepped to position- 13, it isreset. When relay R3 is stepped to position 13, it is likewise reset.

To set the clock, set mode switches SW-SM,, SW-SM and SW-SM are openedto prevent automatic operation of relays R1, R2 and R3. Then setswitches SWS SW-S and SWS are manually operated to independently steprelays R1, R2 and R3 to the desired position. Set mode switches SWSMSW-SM and SWSM are then closed so that motor M1 again controls theoperation of the relays.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein,it is to be understood that full use may be made of modifications,substitutions and equivalents without departing from the scope of theinventive concept.

What is claimed as invention is:

1. A clock comprising:

an open front enclosure;

a translucent masking member closing the open front of said enclosurewhich is dark in the absence of illumination therebehind;

a first ordered array of four light sources mounted in said enclosurebehind said masking member corresponding to the binary number of l, 2, 4and 8;

a second ordered array of four light sources mounted in said enclosurebehind said masking member corresponding to the binary numbers of l, 2,4, and 8, said first and second arrays separated from each other andlocated along a common circular path;

a third ordered array of four light sources mounted in said enclosurebehind said masking member corresponding to the conventional arabicnumbers of l,- 2, 3 and 4, said third array arranged in a square aboutsaid first and second arrays; and,

timing means for selectively illuminating said light sources of saidfirst array to indicate the hour by binary numbers in each 12 hourinterval of the day, illuminating said light sources of said secondarray to indicate the 5 minute interval by binary numbers within thehour, and illuminating said light sources of said third array toindicate the minute by arabic numbers within the 5 minute interval.

2. The clock of claim 1 further including set means for selectivelysetting said timing means to start illuminating said light sources at aprescribed time.

3. The clock of claim 2 wherein said timing means includes a firststepping relay operatively associated with said light sources of saidthird array, a second stepping relay operatively associated with saidlight sources of saidsecond array, a third stepping relay operativelyassociated with said light sources to said first array, and a timer;said third relay operated by said second relay, said second relayoperated by said first relay and said first relay operated by said timerto illuminate said light sources; said set means including first switchmeans for selectively disconnecting said relays from each other and fromsaid timer; and second switch means for independently and manuallyoperating each of said relays to set the clock.

4. A method of indicating time comprising the steps of:

a. selectively illuminating a four light source array corresponding tothe binary numbers of l, 2, 4 and 8 to indicate the hour of the day;

b. selectively illuminating a second four light source arraycorresponding to the binary numbers 1, 2, 4 and 8 to indicate theparticular five minute interval within the hour of the day; and,

c. selectively illuminating a third four light source array arrangedaccording to the arabic numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 to indicate the particularminute within the five minute interval indicated on said second array.

1. A clock comprising: an open front enclosure; a translucent maskingmember closing the open front of said enclosure which is dark in theabsence of illumination therebehind; a first ordered array of four lightsources mounted in said enclosure behind said masking membercorresponding to the binary number of 1, 2, 4 and 8; a second orderedarray of four light sources mounted in said enclosure behind saidmasking member corresponding to the binary numbers of 1, 2, 4, and 8,said first and second arrays separated from each other and located alonga common circular path; a third ordered array of four light sourcesmounted in said enclosure behind said masking member corresponding tothe conventional arabic numbers of 1, 2, 3 and 4, said third arrayarranged in a square about said first and second arrays; and, timingmeans for selectively illuminating said light sources of said firstarray to indicate the hour by binary numbers in each 12 hour interval ofthe day, illuminating said light sources of said second array toindicate the 5 minute interval by binary numbers within the hour, andilluminating said light sources of said third array to indicate theminute by arabic numbers within the 5 minute interval.
 2. The clock ofclaim 1 further including set means for selectively setting said timingmeans to start illuminating said light sources at a prescribed time. 3.The clock of claim 2 wherein said timing means includes a first steppingrelay operatively associated with said light sources of said thirdarray, a second stepping relay operatively associated with said lightsources of said second array, a third stepping relay operativelyassociated with said light sources to said first array, and a timer;said third relay operated by said second relay, said second relayoperated by said first relay and said first relay operated by said timerto illuminate said light sources; said set means including first switchmeans for selectively disconnecting said relays from each other and fromsaid timer; and second switch means for independently and manuallyoperating each of said relays to set the clock.
 4. A method ofindicating time comprising the steps of: a. selectively illuminating afour light source array corresponding to the binary numbers of 1, 2, 4and 8 to indicate the hour of the day; b. selectively illuminating asecond four light source array corresponding to the binary numbers 1, 2,4 and 8 to indicate the particular five minute interval within the hourof the day; and, c. selectively illuminating a third four light sourcearray arranged according to the arabic numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 to indicatethe particular minute within the five minute interval indicated on saidsecond array.